Running Chicken in B+G+HA

[avandonk]

Had a go at blending colour data and HAlpha of NGC 3766 and Running Chicken.

Colour data 7x(1M, 2M, 4M, 8M) at an ISO of 400. Used EasyHDR to produce image.

HAlpha data 3x16M at an ISO of 500.
Large image 1.5MB

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~avandonk2/tstb.jpg

Details.
Camera Canon 5DH, 300mm F2.8L at f/2.8. Colour taken with HUtech LPR filter. HAlpha taken with Asronomik HAlpha filter.
I used Registar to obtain identically sized images of the same region from each image.
I then used Images Plus to split both images into RGB fits and then auto combined the B and G from the colour image and the R from the HAlpha.

I will let you decide if it is an improvement or overdone. Here is the original colour image 1.4MB
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~cheekyfish/300f_L.jpg

[montewilson (Monte)]

This is really good stuff. I have tried to do this with the STL images but am falling short on processing skill.

I think my b&w shots with each filter are first rate but I need to learn more about the processing.

I will make some more attempts to get it right.

Well done!

[avandonk]

Thanks Monte it was my first try at colour blending. Two programs that are a must are ImagesPlus and RegiStar. I find nothing beats RegiStar for aligning and stacking images.
I have also started using EasyHDR to enhance dynamic range so it is not limited by the camera.
If you zoom right in to the image you will see how clear all the faint stars are. The original 12MB JPG is even better!
With this image I also used Richardson Lucy enhancement using IP on each individual colour fit image before blending this seems to work much better than doing it to the colour image. There is more real control over levels that are enhanced and thus leads to no or less artefacts.
You will also notice that all the stars have colour this is due to EasyHDR as the bright star info comes from the short exposures before they are saturated.
I agree that processing is a black art and I still need to learn more but that is part of the fun of this very difficult hobby called Astrophotography.

Bert

I have added a 100% crop from the 12MB image and upsized it by a factor of two. At this scale on a typical monitor the total image is about 2.4 meters wide!

[Ric]

Top image Bert, lots of great detail in that one.

[Dr Nick (Nick)]

Nice detail!

[tornado33]

Gee very nice. Yes Ive seen DSLRs bagged because stars can saturate white, but now as youve shown theres ways around that.
Scott

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I love the Red that H-Alpha brings out!!! That close close close-up shows just how good your gear is Bert, and how good the operator is at it.

Even zoomed in that far and the stars are still round